The Return of Melchizedek (7 Nov 2002) Thomas and Redmane arrive in time to come to the rescue of their friends.

The djinn tirelessly carried the boat across the Wild Lands, at the best speed that horses could have managed, so that the lands about seemed to change hourly. The chasm loomed ahead of them, a great rift in the earth that stretched from horizon to horizon, and then they sailed over it, close enough to the woods that alien chattering wafted itself to their ears, and left it behind.

The wastelands of Annwn were cloaked by snow when the travelers passed by, but it seemed as if the barren rocks had soaked up so much water that they awaited only the coming of spring before they would bloom anew. The walls of Caer Sidi carried their own flowers of lights, and the djinn kindly allowed them to pause long enough to take on fresh provisions. Oberia herself came out, bundled against the night's bitter cold, to bid them a safe journey.

Lady Redmane used these provisions to prepare their first true dinner in many days, in the boat's tiny galley, as they passed Caer Bannuac's unlit, abandoned tower. Sir Lefallon, who held watch at that time, swore that as the tower disappeared from sight, he saw an old wizened man stump out and wave his staff to them as they passed.

They learned over that dinner that the djinn's name was Nashita al-Zephyr, and that she came from an island kingdom in the Great Sea that laid beyond the farthest of the Wild Lands to the west. She spoke of her longing to return there as soon as this last wish had been granted, and invited her companions to visit her there, giving Thomas directions so that he might draw a map. Yet it was Sir Lefallon whom she seemed most fascinated by, to the young knight's great consternation, offering him tidbits from their supper and asking him to fetch her endless things from the ship's supplies, then pretending ignorance when he returned with them.

Days came and went, while they flew east over the Wild Lands.

The Black Boat
A mid-sized boat of dense black wood, about the size of a yacht but with a long, flat deck dominated in the middle by the statue of a unicorn made from some dark grey stone. A door in the deckhouse leads into quarters large enough for four -- or six if they squeeze in and share the bunks, when the nights on deck turn so cold that icicles hang from the rails.

The morning sun turns the low-hanging clouds ahead of the boat to a soft golden hue, like the butter that Nashita set out with the breakfast's fried bread. Bandit's Point, frosted in snow, drifts below languidly, but the pristine beauty of the land has been marred by the footsteps of hundreds and the remains of campfires. Somewhere over the horizon are the lands of Elysia, the heartland of April.

Again Sir Lefallon has been dragged below deck, ostensibly to help Nashita put away the bedrolls for the day. Lord April snorts with amusement to Thomas and Lady Redmane as he walks out on the deck, holding a piece of bread. "After so many Years of restraint and torment, djinn or not, Nashita is clearly of a mind to make up for lost time. I wonder as to her intentions with my young knight."

His gaze turns toward the fog-shrouded hills that lie ahead. "Yet lost time weighs heavily on my mind as well. I know not what the Destroyer may have wrought in my name, and he has had the better part of a Year in which to work mischief. Now he has called forth his army as well. What does he plan?"

Nibbling on her own bit of bread, Redmane opines, "It seems likely that your lands will be host to the Destroyer's hordes before they strike at the heart of Mirari, Lord April. I can only hope we are able to outpace them in time to give warning."

"Oh, I don't have to wonder at all at her intentions," Thomas comments from his position here he looks out over the lands that lay further ahead. "Nor do I have to wonder much at the Destroyer's intentions, really. He's been obsessed with the throne of Mirari, and he means to have it. If not given freely to him while in your guise, then by force. I imagine he'll make his move shortly and try to push the court to coronate him. Should that fail, I imagine he'll take a more direct and forceful route, as Redmane suggests. What concerns me are how many of the court may be under his employ now," he replies in an emotionless tone.

Lord April frowns. "I had thought initially to make my return known at the Palace first, but now I fear for my realm. It may be wisest to stop in Elysia first, and to ascertain the state of things there before we proceed onward." The blonde nobleman looks toward the horizon discontentedly. "Yet if the Destroyer is being crowned in Mirari, then it is there we must go first. Would that I were able to be in two places at once...." He makes a face. "Though not in the sense that it seems to have happened now."

"If we go directly to the court, there is less chance of you being captured, Lord April," Redmane notes. "And we can revive the Lord Protector then as well. I don't think anyone can challenge both of your testimonies then."

"I suggest we go elsewhere and pool our resources. We should contact November, December, and October in secret first. Learn from them the goings-on at court, then plan our move. Charging in, as it were, would be stupid, as we may simply trigger the attack before we have sufficient force at hand. Though, if you really want to go to court, I can make another suggestion," Thomas says, still looking off into the distance.

From below decks comes the familiar sound of Nashita's giggling as a surprised knight yelps.

"What might that be, Lord Explorer?" inquires Lord April with curiosity.

Ahearn, standing in the lee of the deckhouse to shelter from the wind, offers, Avalon is between here and the Palace. We will, at the least, be able to see some of April's lands as we pass them. That may help us decide if it would be prudent to go to them, or to move directly to the Palace.

Thomas takes a sip of water from a waterskin and looks back. "We give the Destroyer what he wants," Thomas replies simply.

"Stage a coronation?" Redmane gasps.

This yields a sputtering of mint tea that rapidly forms green icicles upon the rail, as Lord April spit-takes his tea. He gives Thomas a strange look. "Crown him King? As much as surrender all of Mirari to the sword!"

"Quite right," Thomas says. "Redmane gets my idea. Get his attention focused on his supposed victory, then spring the trap. Throw him off guard, disrupt his plan, and end this quickly."

"Not without knowing his weaknesses first, Thomas," Redmane insists. "And for that we need Lord Mel's and Angel's reports. I sent the Princess to the Palace to learn of what the Houses are doing, after all."

Wiping his face, the still gaunt nobleman ponders Thomas's words. "I take it that you have some proposed means of 'ending' things quickly, once the false Lord April is within our hands," he says.

"Quite possibly. There was a path where people walked into history and from Mirari. We send him down that, out of these lands and into its history, forever," Thomas replies and leans back against a deck rail. "And Redmane, he may already have her. If you want, I think we might be better off getting up with what remains of the Hawks and ask then for reports of the goings-on in the lands."

The black boat passes over the remnants of a destroyed farmstead. The embers are cold, and snow has begun to cover over the destruction, white flecks on blackened wood.

Lord April frowns. "A King passes into Historie at the end of his reign, not before, Lord Explorer," he observes. "But methinks you both counsel that we return discreetly, and learn what we can before we show our hand. Is this not so?"

Ahearn, his ears cocked back to listen to the conversation, hangs his head over the rail, watching the scenery pass by. He flares his nose at the destruction below them, whuffling.

"Correct. I take calculated risks, and in this case I have nothing by which to judge yet. We need to see what we have -- and what we do not," Thomas says. "And as for his reign, who says it has to be a long one, eh?"

"We still haven't caught up to the dark army," Redmane notes. "I would wait until we espy it before deciding on my own approach, as well."

"I suggest we move more cautiously, then. I'd rather us spot them and they not see us," Thomas adds.

"The King reigns for a Year; the Year is the reign of the King," Lord April points out, as assured in his correctness as if he were saying that things fell down when one dropped them. "No, if we seek to trap the Destroyer, we must do it before he is truly crowned."

"Rules can be changed, Lord April," Thomas says flatly."If we continue to just 'follow the rules', we'll never truly change anything. He'll head back west, and return in a few Years." He turns to face out over the lands again.

"We ride in their Lord's chariot, so why should they suspect us of anything?" Redmane points out. "And there are still questions I would like answered, such as why Lord December was prowling around the heart of Ainigton."

Lord April manages to look scandalized at Thomas's suggestion. "Change the Rule of Kings? How would such a thing even be possible?"

More giggling from below decks, and then a mortified-looking Sir Lefallon finally manages to escape up the stairs, pulling on a sweater. He shivers as he enters the cold air but manages to look relieved nevertheless. "Snow down my back was bad enough," he complains to Ahearn. "But I don't need help changing to dry clothes!"

"Because the boat hasn't left his fortress before. It would look suspicious," comes Thomas' counter.

Redmane cocks an eyebrow towards Sir Lefallon, but manages to suppress her grin.

"Sure you do, Sir Lefallon. As a knight, you should always honor a lady's request," Thomas comments with a smirk.

"Lord April, I know you haven't had much time to recover from your captivity, but would you be able to disguise our boat with a glamour?" Redmane asks the fey noble.

Sir Lefallon mutters to Thomas, "A lot of help you are."

"I've only got your best interests at heart," Thomas replies and holds up his hands with a shrug.

Lord April chuckles at Thomas's comment, and then looks toward Redmane thoughtfully. "If I were to devote my full attention to it, it might be possible. What did you have in mind, Lady Redmane?"

Ahearn gives the maligned knight a whicker and a nuzzle. I would offer you advice, but Redmane has taught me that humans may not be treated as knightsteeds, alas for you.

"Perhaps a cloud, or a flock of birds," Redmane suggests.

Sir Lefallon scratches behind an ear, trying to figure out Ahearn's suggestion, then gives it up as a loss and goes to the rail to look over the side at the inoffensive wilderness.

"Good idea, Redmane. Stormcloud -- it's probably easier," Thomas suggests.

Lord April rubs his chin. "I do not think I will be able to sustain such a large glamour for very long. Tell me when you think it is needful, and I shall essay it."

Ahearn raises his head, looking about and flicking his ears. Easier, yes. We will not make a very convincing cloud, I fear. We are moving crosswise to the wind.

"Could Lord Ahearn aid you in sustaining whichever we decide on?" Thomas asks.

"It will be simplest, I think, to pretend that we are as innocent as a cloud of birds or clouds, and as unremarkable, for such is easier in glamourie, but such a disguise will not hold long should someone below give us any degree of attention," Lord April says. "As for the King of Horses... Some knightsteeds are remarkably adept at glamourie. Is this the case for you, Lord Ahearn?"

"The minions of the Destroyer aren't likely to be very bright, if they are anything like the goblins we've dealt with so far," Redmane notes. "Only his Knights will be hard to fool, likely."

"Hey, if it came down to it, we could just get Nashita to bounce the ship on anyone who tries to attack us," Thomas says with a wry grin.

The stallion gives a snort, and a toss of his head, which simultaneously indicates both a certain competence and a sense that the talent is, nonetheless, not his specialty. The Lord Explorer has the gift for it, as well. Best if we all focus on presenting the ship as innocuous, at once, and hope that no one with any reason to worry is looking up.

Redmane nods to Ahearn. "That sounds good. Once we're in range of the army."

Sir Lefallon peers toward the distant snowy horizon, then holds his hand over his eyes to block out the sun. "That might not be too long," he says. "I think I see smoke over those hills."

"I wouldn't count on me being much help. I'm not that good at it," Thomas says with a shrug. He then squints and looks ahead, in the direction indicated by Sir Lefallon. "Ahearn, do you scent anything?" he asks.

"Rachel should come on deck, too. Her crossbow may be useful," Thomas says. "So, Sir Lefallon, why don't you go below decks and fetch her?"

Lord April stands from the shelter of the side of the deckhouse and looks forward as well. His face creases with refreshed worry for his homeland.

Sir Lefallon nods. "Aye, milord!" He hurries below deck.

"Is that a populated area?" Redmane asks the Lord, quietly.

"Unless I miss my guess, we have come upon the Green Sward," Lord April says. "It was long ago the heartland of April, though it is abandoned now and my castle lies some distance beyond it now, closer to Mirari. There is much antiquity in the Green Sward."

"Is there an old fortress there, then?" Thomas asks.

Faint shadowy specks begin to rise over the distant hills, shapes that might be large, crude tents. Tiny dots mill about within the encampment.

Rachel emerges from the deckhouse, alongside Simon, and blinks at the light of the sun. "Trouble, my lord?"

"Time to play innocent passing dragon, or whatever," Redmane announces as the camp gets closer. She doesn't look away from the sight though, trying to estimate the strength of the army.

Lord April casts his thoughts back into his memory. "There was an ancestral manor there once. It would be merely ancient ruins by now, unsuitable for any sort of military fortification." A moment's pause. "There are legends of the Green Sward, but they elude my thought for now."

Nashita floats above deck in Lefallon's trail, looking studiedly innocent -- a pose that fades when she sees the real concern on the faces of the others. "Is there trouble, my friends?" she asks in the djinn's intonation that makes language into song.

"A manor you say?" Redmane asks, somewhat distractedly. "Ah, Nashita! We are catching up with the Destroyer's army, and need to make ourselves unremarkable if we should be seen."

"Doesn't it usually surround me?" Thomas comments with a glance back. "We've got an army to fly over. We may need your crossbow in case they spot it. As for the legends, think back on them after we pass over -- it could be important," he then says and sits down on the deck and closes his eyes to blot out distractions and focus on the single thought of the ship being just an innocuous thing, or things, gliding through the air.

"Should I turn the boat aside?" asks Nashita worriedly.

"It would be good if our shadow did not fall within their ranks," Redmane replies, "but I would like to be able to get a sense of their numbers also."

"See if you can bring us alongside the encampment, perhaps get our shadow to pass over some trees, which would be less noticeable," Thomas comments and opens one eye.

Rachel frowns as she catches the conversation, looking thoughtful. She moves to the prow, shading her eyes against the morning sun as she looks out. "The Green Sward. That was the keep Lady Angelique built," she notes, for Agatha and Tom's benefit.

Sir Lefallon keeps his eyes on the slowly enlarging camp. "Looks like they're all excited over something," he says. "Can't tell what, from here." It does indeed seem as if the tiny monstrous figures are moving about with some more haste than would be normal for an army stirring without immediate purpose.

Thomas opens his other eye, now distracted, and peers toward the creatures again. "I wonder what they've found. They must be here for a purpose, if this place is what you say, Rachel," he says grimly.

Nashita bows to Thomas. "Hearkening, my friend, it will be so," she says. Subtly, the course of the boat changes so that in time, it will pass near, but not directly over the camp.

"This close to April's castle, the Destroyer may be coming to inspect his troops," Redmane suggests, while mulling over Rachel's information, and thinking back to the photo map Nymuae assembled showing Ainigton and Mirari overlaid.

"Hm, perhaps you should drop me off here so I can get a closer look at what they're doing," Thomas comments, curious.

Lord April eyes Thomas. "I am about to begin a glamour, but if you leave the boat, you will be as noticeable as ever, Lord Explorer," he warns. "Shall I begin now?"

"I can take care of myself -- I've being doing so for a long time," Thomas comments, then nods. "Yes, we shall begin now. I'll attempt to help with whatever I can muster. I leave it to the others to observe them as we pass over," he replies, then closes his eyes once again to avoid any more distractions to his concentration.

"Please do, Lord April," Redmane asks, then turns to Thomas and notes, "If you were discovered here, it would be just as bad as if we landed in the middle of Court."

Lord April stretches his hands out. "Very well. Focus on the images of clouds and birds, Lord Explorer. We are as innocent as the clouds," he says intently, encompassing the boat in his concentration. "As unremarkable as birds..."

"Yes, if I was discovered. Now, please, quit distracting me," mutters Thomas.

Redmane quiets and joins Sir Lefallon in counting tents, troops and siege weapons.

Thomas follows Lord April's words, his attention focused on the idea of wispy clouds, a loose association of birds, flitting here and there as they move across the sky -- simple scenes of nature.

The encampment becomes more recognizable, a large gathering of crude tents and the ruins of a manor. There is a statue of what looks like a winged horse, rearing, and a cat rolling in the snow by it, inexplicably. If the statue were as large as other statues, it would be a truly immense cat, as large as a tiger. Several trollish figures move toward two smaller figures, and others, difficult to make out at this distance, approach from a nearby clearing in the woods.

Whispering to Sir Lefallon, Redmane notes, "There seem too few warriors about for the number of tents. Do you think the bulk of the force is on the march or raiding nearby?"

Sir Lefallon peers at the encampment. "I'm more wondering about the cat. It looks like it's playing, but it looks to me like the others down there are fighting. What are they doing down there?"

Redmane grinds her teeth, wondering as well. Finally, she asks Nashita, "Can you bring us in a little closer? Those visible on the ground seem to be distracted by something, and we'd like to know what it is."

As the boat travels closer, enshrouded by glamour, the figures become plainer: two trolls are moving purposefully toward a smaller female form on horseback, and the figures closing in includes two more human forms, garbed in armor, and a deer-like centaur, also being attacked by trolls. Sir Lefallon mutters, "If I had Thomas's eyesight, maybe I could tell what was going on ... but it looks like trouble."

Nashita bows to Redmane. "Hearkening, my Lady," she says softly. The boat begins to descend slightly as it sails toward the fracas.

"That centaur looks like a soldier of October," Redmane says, "and the others.... Ahearn, is that horse Fiona?"

Lord April continues to concentrate only on the glamourie, hands stretched out. There is the feeling of magic in the air, but no obvious change to those within.

Additional trolls, and other monsters harder to identify, are moving from the outskirts of the encampment. They, too, are closing upon the central figures of foroove and mounted woman.

Ahearn, like Lord April and the Explorer, is concentrating on extending a glamour, but his ears prick at Agatha's question. He swivels his head to look in the indicated direction. His nostrils flare, and he nods his head once. Yes.

"Help me with the ropes, Sir Lefallon," Redmane says, heading for the middle of the deck where the ropes are kept. "We're going to try and pull those three out of there. That steed is Fiona, so the rider must be Hannah! Nashita, bring us over to them and low enough for them to jump aboard!"

Nashita nods to Redmane and guides the boat so that it glides over the treetops now, and slower as well so that it will not overshoot and thrust itself into the attention of the camp.

"There's no way we can pull up a horse," Rachel protests. She pauses, and adds, "Well, maybe Miss al-Zephyr can -- but not us!"

One of Thomas's eyes opens, hearing the name. "How close are the creatures together that approach them?" he asks slowly, trying to remain focused.

"If we're low enough, Fiona and the forooves can jump ... but we can still have the ropes ready to airlift them if needed," Redmane replies. "Thomas... they're being surrounded, so are keeping together."

Nashita says, "My Lady, I can bring the horse and the Foroove aboard, but I will have to stop the boat to do so." She looks worriedly down at the encroaching trolls. "I think that we had best be prepared to defend the boat, if we were to try such a thing, my friends."

"Can Nashita swing the ship around them, and ram those that are closing to attack? That would disrupt them and give Hannah and the others time to get on," Thomas suggests. "Or if the soldiers are close enough, just land the ship on them."

The lady on horseback menaces the troll nearest her with a thrust of her sword towards its chest. Her mount swings its head towards its fellow, making sure that he is always within line-of-sight, not wishing to be taken by surprise.

"Nashita, can you do what Thomas asks?" Redmane calls to the djinn.

Lord April frowns. "The glamourie is not easy to sustain, this close," he warns. "Their attention is all upon those they pursue; if we approach so closely as you propose, it will be impossible to resume our glamourie after that."

As the boat swings closer to the struggle, Redmane and Sir Lefallon catch sight of more monsters boiling forth from the woods. It's as if the army that had inhabited this camp is just now returning -- and they look particularly affronted by the non-monstrous interlopers in the midst of their tents.

"If we don't save them, the glamourie won't matter," Thomas replies, then stands. "Is Alice with them?"

Nashita blinks. "My Lady, it is a boat, not a sword! I can direct it so, but not so swiftly as to batter them about the heads, should they duck or scatter to the sides."

"Forget stealth!" Redmane says. "Just try and put us close enough for them to get aboard then, Nashita." The knight draws her sword.

Lord April nods to Thomas. "Then let us be ready to repel boarders. I shall continue the glamourie until the last minute." His face shows some of the strain he feels from warding off the glances of the trolls below.

Thomas draws his own sword. "Thank you, Lord April. Sir Lefallon, Rachel, spread along the sides of the ship, equal spacing. We each need to repel boarders for a section. Nashita, take us in as Redmane says, then help get the others on board -- then get us out of there," Thomas says calmly.

Rachel takes position as assigned, cranking back her crossbow with a sour look of concentration on her face.

Sir Lefallon nods, drawing his sword. "You've got it, milord." He takes the opposite side.

Thomas takes up his position near the bow of the ship. "And Ahearn, anyone who tries to get onboard other than our friends -- please kick them into the next country," Thomas replies, a small grin creeping over his face.

Redmane holds her sword two-handed, slightly cocked back in her favorite position for beheading things.

The black boat descends into the clearing, silently, over a scene that might once have been idyllic, with flowerbeds describing the shapes of circles. The statue of the winged horse stands in center of the circles, and the cat near it continues to roll about, swatting at illusory things in the air.

With a gasp, Lord April drops the glamour. There are guttural cries from the trolls as they sight the boat, so suddenly in their awareness.

Seeing a large, boat-shaped shadow pass over the ground in front of her, the auburn-haired woman on horseback splutters, "What in the name of-?" She spares a second to glance above her and does a classic double-take at the sight of the airborne ship.

"This isn't what 'keep out of trouble', means, Hannah," Thomas shouts! "Need a lift?"

Hannah looks even more shocked by the sound of Thomas's voice coming from the ship, but only for a split-second. "You took the words right out of my mouth, Lord Thomas!" she calls in return.

Lord April takes a moment to catch his breath, rubbing his forehead, and then draws his sword as he strides to the side of the ship. He takes a breath, seeing the fighting all about.

"Caradoc!" Redmane calls to the forooves, although she doesn't expect him to recognize her at the moment. "Bring your men to the boat!"

"Then move! This isn't a pleasure cruise!" Thomas yells back and then turns his attention to the creatures, prepared for an assault upon the ship.

The two trolls who were trying to surround Hannah continue to stare, dumbfounded, at the boat ... but only for that one second. They lurch into motion, trying to capture Hannah before she can break away from them.

Hannah grunts at this and swings her rapier at the trolls who seem intent on getting too close. "Might need a bit of help with all these 'barriers' that are in my way first, milord!"

Caradoc, the other foroove, and the two human-like fey knights all look even more startled than Hannah, but Caradoc recovers quickly at the shout. He darts around an equally shocked troll -- but he is prevented from closing on the boat by the swift action of the second troll, who seems too thick-headed to be surprised. "Go on, men!" he shouts to the others with them, managing to evade most of a swipe from the troll's club, but it still grazes his shoulder. He grimaces. "I'll catch up to you!"

Thomas shouts, "Rachel, can you shoot one of the trolls? Hannah requests assistance!" He then tenses, uncertain what to do next.

The Explorer's rapier grazes one of the trolls, which falls back yowling horribly, but the other manages to close in! The troll bellows as it reaches up to pull her down...

Seeing Caradoc in trouble, Redmane ties one end of a rope around her waist and prepares to jump ship to aid him.

Thanks to a last-minute leap by her mount, Hannah just manages to dart away from the troll reaching for her, with only the hem of her cloak somewhat worse for wear. The troll, now with only shreds of cloth in its hand to show for its efforts, shrieks after her and she and Fiona ride towards the ship at top speed.

Rachel spreads her legs to brace better against the deck. She steadies her aim, holding the crossbow with one hand on the grip, and the other against the stock, then sights down the bolt. Her brow furrows in concentration. She pulls the trigger. The feathered end of a quarrel blossoms from the closely pursuing troll's eye. The creature gives an unholy scream, staggering backwards.

The remaining troll roars angrily, and charges headlong after Hannah and Fiona, blood dripping from his forehead!

Trailing the rope behind her, Redmane jumps down from the boat and dashes towards Caradoc.

Thomas flexes his grip around the hilt of his sword. He holds his position, determined to defend the boat. Inwardly, he curses at Redmane's abandonment of the ship -- now one less to hold back any attackers. He shifts his position, trying to adjust for the loss of a crewmember.

By this time, those trolls who had been coming from the outskirts of the fight have almost closed on the ship. The vanguard of the returning, and angry, army of trolls is partway across the clearing, screaming for blood.

Then, abruptly, an army of armored, mounted knights exists in the scene. They appear from nowhere, arrayed in rank upon rank before the statue, holding drawn swords upraised in their hands, ready for battle. At their forefront stands a dismounted giant of a figure, seven feet tall and wearing a helm in the shape of a bear's head.

The knights quickly assess the situation, their leader turning to face the nearest troll, and roaring. Horses twist and knights lay about themselves with sword. In moments, the monsters that menaced Hannah, Fiona, and the foroove realize that they are badly outnumbered, and those that have not been immediately incapacitated turn tail and flee towards the bulk of their army, in the forest.

"Hey, the cavalry. I'm not complaining -- I prefer these odds!" Thomas says with a grin. "I just hope they're not a third faction, eh?" He lowers his sword slowly and calls out, "Whom, may I ask, have come to our aid? Are you friend or foe?"

Redmane nearly trips at the spectacle of the instant mounted cavalry, unsure whether to believe her eyes or not, but keeps on towards Caradoc.

Rachel gapes at the sudden appearance of the cavalry, staring. The quarrel she was about to reload into her crossbow dangles forgotten from her hand. On the ground, Caradoc's retreat has been forestalled, not by trolls, but by the sheer number of armed assistants that have come to his aid.

Sir Lefallon stares disbelievingly at the sight of the unexpected cavalry, and Lord April starts, as he suddenly remembers what he had forgotten. "Of course! Now I remember the legend! But I never dreamed that it would come true in my lifetime."

Hannah suddenly stops Fiona and turns her around as she realizes that there are no longer any trolls barreling after her. She whoops with joy. "She did it! Mirari has its army!"

The bear-helmed leader shouts to Tom, "Sir Theodore, my lord, and the Knights of the Green Sward, at your service!" With that, he points his sword towards the army of darkness, confused and disorganized, still emerging from the trees. "Charge!" he roars to his men, then leads by example, advancing on foot with startling speed, while the hooves of his army thunder at his heels.

All of his army, that is, except for a small contingent of seven knights. They ad been in the middle, but let the rest of force flow past them, leaving them in relative peace. They look ready to take on anyone who might approach them, however. At the very center of this troop, mounted behind one knight, sits a wide-eyed little blond girl.

Sheathing her sword, Redmane smiles and calls to the mounted girl, "Angel! We've brought back Lord Mel!"

Thomas chuckles, "Of course. The bear. Well, now I know our odds." He then glances toward Redmane, then towards the blonde girl. "And he needs your aid, I'm afraid. He is bound by a curse only you can break. Please, hurry. It's good to see you, but we don't have that much time for chit-chat," he shouts.

Hannah urges Fiona over to where the blonde-haired girl sits mounted among the group of knights. She smiles at them all and bows slightly in her saddle. "Lady Jill, sir knights," she begins formally, but her face soon splits into a lop-sided grin and she says, "Are we ever glad to see you!"

"Hi!" calls out Alice from the center of the ring of seven knights. She gives a big wave to the closest group of her friends. "You got Lord Mel? That's great!" As Hannah approaches she gives her a wave too. "I'm terribly sorry I took so long."

The tall, blonde nobleman smiles and salutes with his sword to Sir Theodore. "Well met! In truth, you have come at the very greatest moment of Mirari's need, noble knight. You could not have been more timely." His glance goes toward the young girl, whom he seems to fail to recognize.

The little girl looks likewise puzzled when she sees the tall blonde man. She glances at him curiously, gives him a wave too, then asks aside to Hannah, "Is that Sir Tristan?"

"Sir Theodore looks much better on horseback than he does as a teddy-bear," Redmane says as she checks on Caradoc.

Sir Lefallon blinks. "Sir Theodore?" He looks all abashed, as if comparing his own rather small stature to the mighty knight.

Hannah looks behind her for a moment at the man to which Alice is referring and replies, "No, my lady. I do believe that Lord Thomas had made good on his intention to bring back the true Lord April."

Thomas sheaths his sword and calls out again, "Look, I'm sorry to cut the reunion short, but we have things to do. Lets get moving. We can talk later!"

"Really?" Alice seems quite overwhelmed by the whole situation. "I guess we all came here at once." She turns to survey the battle up ahead and shakes her head. "We can talk later. Is anyone hurt?"

The nobleman continues, "Lord Explorer, Lady Redmane, our return can no longer be a secret. Those of the Destroyer's army that are fleeing this place will surely bring word of the heroes that thwarted them here. We have little time to decide what we will do now." He looks toward Thomas and Redmane, awaiting their responses.

"Exactly, Lord April. I want Angel up here, now, so we can release Lord Mel. From there, we make plans based on what he knows," Thomas replies. "We have to move quick, but lets not move stupidly. The Lord Protector will be our greatest asset."

"Angel?" Lord April looks nonplussed.

"I'll explain later," Thomas mutters.

"All right. Look, lets help destroy as much of the Destroyer's forces as we can. We can then regroup and select a meeting place and a approach on a twofold path. Angel, Hannah, and couple others they choose, will join us on the boat. We move to the meeting place by air, the army takes the ground. Safer to keep our key weapons in more than one place," Thomas calls out, then jumps off the boat to go aid in fighting the Destroyer's forces that linger in the area.

"C'mon Ahearn," Redmane calls to the lord of horses. "We'd better go keep Thomas out of trouble."

Ahearn snorts, and waits for Redmane to mount, before he vaults lightly to the ground. They join in the pursuit, Redmane's lance at ready.

While the chaos of battle goes on about her and Lord Thomas explains his plan Alice directs her seven knights to rush to Caradoc's side. "I'm sorry I'm late!" she tells him as the knight she's riding with helps her down to the ground. "I'm sorry I couldn't take you across the Siege with me too," she continues on as she hurries to his side and kneels down. "Taking another person across is very hard. But I can help you now."

Sir Lefallon leaps off the boat after Thomas. "Anyone tell you that you need a full-time bodyguard?" the younger knight yells to his older friend, grinning.

Hannah catches Alice's eye and grins at her. "Excuse me while I rejoin the battle. Again." She then turns Fiona about to join the others.

"Have fun!" Alice calls after Hannah as she trots off to fight. She gives her a big wave before returning to her healer's work.

Sometime later, the portion of the Destroyer's army that had been present at the camp has been thoroughly routed. Theodore maneuvered his troops to enclose and crush the main enemy force. With help from Redmane, Thomas, and Hannah, they clean up many of the stragglers, imprisoning or slaying scores of monsters. It's possible, though they would not depend on it, that none of the Destroyer's people escaped.

As Tom suggested, the army and the boat have rendezvoused after the battle at a clearing on the outskirts of Elysia. Alice has tended to Caradoc's scrapes on the ride over. The foroove is in good spirits and doesn't seem the least bit put out by Alice's sudden disappearance earlier. "Your sudden reappearance more than made up for it, m'lady," he tells her.

Tristan and Souhait make it to the rendezvous spot, as well, having added their own mayhem to the fight with the Destroyer's army. With the fighting finally over, Alice has been moving through the clearing, tending to the injured among their army, and even among the prisoners. When Tom finally catches up to her, he brings the healer-princess back to the boat, to see to Melchizedek.

"Only one gifted as a powerful healer can free him. This is your riddle to answer, Angel, -- I have done all I can," Thomas says quietly as he stands before the large statue.

"I'm glad to see Souhait found his way back to you, Sir Tristan," Redmane says quietly to the Knight of April.

"And I am glad to see that Sir Tristan and Souhait are safely back among us," Hannah adds softly, with a smile to the blonde knight.

Lord April stands nearby, soberly. "Milady Angel. And you have the very look of my House about you. Nor would Sir Theodore's men have been roused but by one of my bloodline." He glances meaningfully toward Thomas. "Perhaps it is time that you explained this riddle, Lord Explorer, but I begin to guess at its answer."

As Alice steps back on the boat her excited and pretty much incomprehensible explanation of everything that has occurred up till then ceases abruptly as she looks off towards the statue unicorn as Lord Thomas tells her what she has to do. She gasps, looking horrified. "Oh!" She fumbles at her healer's pouch as she rushes forward towards the statue. "Poor you!" she calls to the petrified Lord Protector. This is mean."

Sir Tristan seems more solemn, and less sure of himself, than Redmane remembers. He offers a grateful smile to both of the women. "Thank you, my ladies. I missed Souhait more than I can say, Knight Redmane. Though I expect you understand my sentiment, even if I cannot express it in words." He inclines his head to the Lord of Horses at his final comment.

"Lord April, before you stands the daughter of the missing king," Thomas says and returns the look. "She has been kept purposely hidden -- to protect her. But now, it's time for her to take her place and assume her duties. What was lost has been found."

Nashita hovers nearby, looking nervous with so many people nearby. She whispers to Sir Lefallon, "I hope we can be done with this business soon. I so long to return to my home, where it is peaceful and quiet, and the winds sing around the rocks."

Sir Lefallon nods agreement, "A little peace and quiet sound good right about now."

"I understand," Redmane agrees, and reaches to pat Ahearn on the neck.

Alice doesn't at first seem to hear Lord April as she rushes past him and the others to tend to Lord Melchizedek. Upon reaching the unicorn she does however turn to curtsey to the lord quickly before whirling back to study the statue carefully. "I guess you were right when you told Lord Bram getting out of statueness would be hard," she whispers to him. "I'll try and fix it as fast as I can though."

To Hannah, Tristan says, "You played your role at the Sward with unsurpassed skill, my lady. I am grateful that you were willing to risk so much in this venture, and even more grateful that what you risked ... was not lost." He trails off, managing to look even younger, and gazes at the deck of the ship.

In response to her whisper, Alice gets a little feeling of assent, as if the unicorn were agreeing with her comment about Lord Bram.

Lord April nods soberly to Thomas. "King Marc must have anticipated that someone plotted against his throne. I knew nothing of this, when he anointed me heir in June, and I mourned with him and Queen Seraph for their loss."

A flush of crimson seems to be spreading across Hannah's cheeks at Tristan's words, but she replies to him steadily enough, in a voice pitched low enough so that only he may hear. "Then we are both grateful this day, for I am also glad that your own risk did not come with a heavy price."

The little blonde girl nods a little as she stands on her tip-toes and peers at the unicorn's solid hide. "Hm. Sir Tristan?" Alice twists and searches for the knight behind her. "Could I have Lord Mel back please?" The girl blinks, then holds her hands about a foot apart to indicate something small. "Little Lord Mel." She gives a nervous smile.

"Likely. Though giving up his daughter, if even to protect her, is cause enough to mourn. I am certain King Marc did what he thought was best," Thomas replies quietly, then glances toward Hannah and Tristan. He smirks briefly, then returns his attention to the matter at hand.

Sir Tristan looks up to flash a quick smile to Hannah, and bows to her. At Alice's request, he hastily fumbles beneath his cloak, producing the stuffed unicorn. He dusts the red mane off, and returns the toy to her with a solemn flourish. "Certainly, Lady Jill, and my thanks for his assistance earlier."

"Lady Jill?" Redmane wonders out loud, looking from Tristan to Alice.

Once she has the doll back Alice's brows narrow in apparent concentration. "Hm," she repeats. Then, slowly, she begins to walk and abruptly pauses. "Which way is widdershins?" she asks no one in particular.

Sir Tristan looks embarrassed. "Princess Angel," he corrects himself. "Her majesty the Queen presented her highness to me as 'Lady Jill' ... but I see the need for that ruse is gone, now." He inclines his head to Tom, and the explanation just given to Lord April.

"Counterclockwise, your highness," Tristan answers, automatically.

"It explains a comment that King Marc made to me once when we were alone together," Lord April muses quietly. "He spoke of looking upon the end of his own Year with gladness, that the seeds he had sown in the Spring would ripen in the Fall. And he said that he was glad that his own daughter would not be sentenced to a life less than two full Years. I do not wonder why now."

"If I have my way, it will be far longer than two Years, Lord April," Thomas replies and glances to the Lord. "It is possible. After all, I am near twenty, am I not? Many things are possible, if you're willing to look."

"Thank you sir knight!" And with the answer to her question Alice counts out while pointing. "Twelve" she points where she is. "One" she points across the unicorn from her. "Six, nine ... okay!" The little blonde girl then begins walking counterclockwise around the unicorn statue and begins slowly with what sounds like an incantation.

"Stars and Moon, Sun and Sky, let the dark Powers pass, pass by," the little girl says as she walks.

"Aye, you have a certain wildness about you, like the untamed parts of Mirari where much can happen," Lord April agrees with a quiet smile. "All of you do." He falls silent, watching Angel's ritual.

A hush falls over the others on the boat, an expectant air surrounding them as Alice tries her spell.

"Um." The girl makes another lap around the unicorn as she stares at the ground in deep concentration. As she begins in to her third lap she suddenly continues. "Oh ... East and West, South and North, unite and call this man's body forth." When she finishes she's standing back on "twelve" -- the end of her third circle. There she stands on her toes again and strains to reach Lord Melchizedek's forehead ... and isn't close at all. She glances back to Sir Tristan for help, pointing up.

Sir Tristan steps forward quickly, sensing Alice's request, and lifts the girl easily with his hands about her waist. He raises her to the level of the unicorn's head, his shoulders tensing against the effort.

Now high enough Alice reaches forward and touches the horn of her stuffed unicorn along with her own left hand to the petrified protector's forehead. "Bop!"

At the touch of the unicorn doll's horn to that of the statue's, the dark grey rock of the statue starts to crack. Lines race outwards from its forehead, a fine web of cracks spreading to cover neck and mane, then shoulders, eventually enveloping the whole body. Then, with a shudder of the statue, the rock flakes away like dried mud, turning into fine powder on the evening breeze. Hide of midnight and a mane of flames are revealed beneath the vanishing layer of grey. Lord Melchizedek tosses his head, and drops at last from his rearing stance, to the ground.

From there, he drops further, bowing to the little girl. "My princess," he begins, in a voice without words that is somehow clearer than any language has a right to be. "My friends, my allies, old and new. I owe you a debt I can never repay. I give you my gratitude, and my thanks."

Redmane bows to the unicorn, and says, "Welcome back, Lord Protector. I'm sure you have information that will aid us against the Destroyer."

Hannah's eyes widen at the sight of the great black unicorn bowing to them, and offers a low bow in return.

Sir Tristan drops to one knee. He sets the princess gently to the ground, then completes his own bow to the unicorn. "Lord Protector," he says, simply.

Sir Lefallon blinks, jaw agape, and then closes his mouth and kneels. "I-it's my honor to have been of help, Lord Protector," he says, almost stammering.

Lord April bows. "Lord Melchizedek," he says.

"Welcome home, Lord Melchizedek. It has been what seems several lifetimes since I heard your voice. Mirari once again stands on the edge of disaster as I am sure you are aware. We always seem to meet under those situations, it seems. And no offense meant, but I hope this will be the last of those occasions," Thomas replies calmly and evenly, then takes a breath. "When you have time, I would like to speak with you. But for now, I'm certain others want to welcome you home," he then turns and walks toward the entrance to the lower decks.

Ahearn bows, as well, matching Lord Melchizedek's own bow. Welcome back, Lord Protector. There is much to be done.

After a moment of gaping, Rachel kneels. She says nothing, but gazes after the departing Lord Explorer, her expression puzzled.

In response to Lord Melchizedek release Alice steps forward and wraps her arms around the unicorn's leg. She clings to him stuffed animal and all. "I was worried about you!" she tells him, heartfelt. The blonde finds her eyes suddenly clouded. "I'm sorry I didn't go to find you, ... and I'm sorry I had to be a bother, and, and, I'm sorry you got put in the wash ... " The princess rests her head against her protector's leg so that she faces the rest of her friends and to them she adds, "I'm glad to see you all again, too, my friends. Thank you for saving him." She gives them all a smile and blinks. Tears shed from her eyes, and she sniffles a little.

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This site serves as a chronicle of sessions in an online roleplaying campaign moderated by Conrad "Lynx" Wong and May "Rowan" Wasserman. The contents of this site are (c) 2001, 2002 by Conrad Wong and May Wasserman except where stated otherwise. Despite the "children's fantasy" theme of this campaign, this site is not intended for young readership, due to mild language and violence.